Kaffir Boy

Kaffir Boy, and Stolen Party relate to each other in multiple different ways. They both show a type of stereotype and racism plays a big part of Kaffir Boy and in Stolen Party. In Kaffir Boy it shows both stereotypes and racism in multiple ways. The main character was not named in this story so we will just call him the narrator. The narrator faced racism when he and his granny went to    Mrs. Smith's house in many different ways. Granny and the narrator had to eat breakfast in the garage instead of having it in the kitchen like normal people would have kitchen. It says on lines 77-78,

"Ellen, your breakfast is near the washing machine in the garage." 

This quote shows that Mrs. Smith did not feel comfortable having granny and the narrator in her kitchen eating breakfast. Later on in the story when Clyde Mrs. Smiths son came home from school he was very mean and racist to the narrator. Clyde thought he was better and smarter than the narrator because Clyde was white and the narrator was not. It says on lines 160-161,

"'I doubt if you can read any of my books. Here, read," he ordered, pulling one out of the shelves. The book was thick, looked formidable."

This quotes shows that the narrator was discriminated against because of his color of skin, and that Clyde did not think the narrator was smart because he is black.
Stereotypes is also a big part of Kaffir Boy. Granny is a maid for Mrs. Smith, she does her yard work for her. It says on lines 80-83,

"... Granny took out her gardening tools from the shed, and we started working. As the two of us went about the large yard, I raked leaves and watered the flowers; Granny weeded the lawn."

This quote shows that Granny is doing yard work, kind of like a slave would do back when America had slaves.
This relates to Stolen Party because in Stolen Party the monkey related to a slave and the magician related to the slave owner. It also relates because Rosaura's mother is a maid and she is Hispanic so it is a stereotype that all Hispanics are maids. Do you guys see the racism in these stories or is it just me?

The Stolen Party

In the story The Stolen Party by Liliana Heker there are many symbols. The symbol that pop out the most to me are the monkey, the magician. The monkey symbolizes a slave, and the magician symbolizes a slave. The monkey is kept in a cage and is trapped, Like a slave with shackles and they couldn't go anywhere. Then when the monkey is released from the cage he goes out and performs to get the magician money. The slave would be woken up early in the morning to go to work. The slave would work extremely hard either in the fields, or in the slave owners house. The slave owner would have cotton picked to either sell or trade or to make shirts or cloths. When the magician told the monkey to do something he had to listen or he would get in trouble. The monkey did what he was told to do, he would get bossed around some might say. It says in the story on lines 80-85,

"He could guess what cards were pulled out from a pack, and the monkey was his assistant. He called the monkey "partner." " Let's see here, partner," he would say, "turn over a card." And, "Don't run away, partner: time to work now." The final trick was wonderful. One of the children had to hold the monkey in his arms and the magician said he would make him disappear." 

This quote from the story shows that the monkey was just brought out of the cage to perform his tricks, and he was told to not run away. Like a slave owner would tell a slave to not run away. Also they made the pet in this story a monkey, instead of the rabbit that we are used to seeing as the magicians animal. Also the word can be a racist term against black people, because they used to get called monkeys. Is it just me that sees this symbol or is it obvious to you too?

Girl Blog Post 1

Society creates stereotypes in which we are all forced to live. They create labels and fit people into specific boxes in an attempt to better understand the world we live in. In the story Girl by Jamaica Kincaid it is a mother telling the daughter how she should live her life to be in societies eyes "a good woman". Women should not have to be told what to do and when to do it to be seen as a good woman. A woman should do what they want, and if they have goals they should be able to chase their goals and not be trapped in societies boxes. If the woman wants to go out, and make money to support her and her family there should be nothing wrong with that, or if she wants to go out and go to school to chase her dream to be successful and do what she wants to do she should be able to do that and be known as a good women because she is chasing her dreams.
It says on lines 23-25

"...and this way they won't recognize immediately the slut i have warned against becoming; be sure to wash everyday, even if it is with your own spit, don't squat down to play marbles..."

This quote shows that the mother is telling the daughter what to do because she does not want the daughter to turn out like a "slut". She is also trying to make sure the daughter does not do what she wants with her life. It shows that by telling her to not play marbles.
Men also have to keep this image of being "the great guy". Men are supposed to go out and make all of the money to support the family with. If something is bothering them they are frowned apon by trying to share their feelings and are told to "man up".  A man or woman should not have to be criticized by society, and should not have to worry what others think about them and what they should do and act. How did the story girl make you guys feel after you read it?